Pope Benedict XVI Begins Second Trip to Africa

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI opened his second papal trip to Africa on Friday (Nov. 18) with a warning against economic development through unbridled capitalism. Arriving in the West African country of Benin, Benedict told the country’s president and other...

Benetton Pulls Pope-kissing Ad

VATICAN CITY (RNS) International clothing retailer Benetton pulled a provocative ad featuring Pope Benedict XVI kissing a Muslim cleric on Wednesday (Nov. 16) after the Vatican threatened legal action to protect the pope’s image. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico...

Church Prosecutor: Parents Have Duty to Report Abuse

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Catholic parents have a “right and duty” to report the sexual abuse of minors, in spite of any “ill-informed and misplaced considerations of loyalty” to their church, the Vatican’s chief sex abuse investigator said. Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna...

Pope Convenes Interfaith Summit

ASSISI, Italy (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI hosted some 300 representatives of world religions here on Thursday (Oct. 27) for an interfaith summit on justice and peace, with distinct changes made to the event first convened 25 years ago by Pope John Paul II. Benedict, who...